Aurelio Costarella on Australian Style

“Glee” star Naya Rivera in a design by Aurelio Costarella at the Screen Actors Guild Awards last January. View photos.

Designers typically look to the Big Four — New York, London, Paris and Milan — as the fashion weeks with the most star power and opportunity. But for Aurelio Costarella, who launched his eponymous label at Australia’s fashion week in 2000, it doesn’t get bigger than Sydney.

“For me, showing in Australia is something quite special,” said the Perth-based designer, whose creations have been worn by Rihanna, Dita Von Teese and “Glee” star Naya Rivera. “I remember the first show I did in New York…I didn’t feel like I had anything to prove. I’m not as nervous [when I show abroad] as when I do a show back in Sydney.”

Despite his home focus, Mr. Costarella’s influences are distinctly international. His new collection this season brings together the palette of 1920s Shanghai – wasabi greens and chartreuse – with the iconography of European Renaissance art.

Period touches feed into the longevity of Mr. Costarella’s designs. One of the biggest compliments, in his book, is “meeting a client for the first time and them telling me they bought something of mine 15 years ago and they still love it and they still wear it,” he said.

His creations certainly take time to make. Each of the 23 pieces in his latest show, which featured his trademark intricate beadwork, feathered skirts and pom-pom headdresses, was meticulously hand-stitched in his studio over a three-month period.

Such dedicated focus was enabled by Mr. Costarella pulling out of the U.S. three years ago as the global financial crisis took its toll on demand for his designs.

“I’ve been back a few times [to the U.S.] to have a look at the market, but it’s still not ready,” he said. “In terms of investing marketing dollars…the Australian market is better for us.”

Comments (1 of 1)

There doesn't feel like anything knew in the post war trends. It's just pretty girls with pretty bodies validating overpriced clothing when they look good regardless even in that post Orc rampage smudged eyes, wan face, pale lips look.